listbeeEndings and word parts
Adding -ing and -ed
Adding -ing or -ed sometimes changes the base word. Three rules cover most of the words children meet in second and third grade.
- Sound
- Word endings -ing and -ed
- Usually taught
- 2nd–3rd grade
- Words on this page
- 30 in 3 lists
Adding -ing and -ed: word lists
Practice a list online (each word is read aloud), or open it in the worksheet maker to print a test, word search, or look-cover-write-check sheet.
Just add the ending
10 words- jumping
- jumped
- playing
- played
- helping
- helped
- looking
- looked
- painting
- painted
Double the last letter
10 words- hopping
- hopped
- running
- stopping
- stopped
- sitting
- swimming
- shopping
- clapped
- planned
Drop the silent e
10 words- hoping
- hoped
- making
- baking
- baked
- riding
- smiling
- smiled
- writing
- skated
How the pattern works
Just add: if the word ends in two consonants (jump, help) or a vowel team (play, look), add the ending as is.
Double: if a one-syllable word ends in one short vowel and one consonant (hop, stop, run), double the last consonant first: hopping, stopped.
Drop the e: if the word ends in a silent e (hope, make), drop the e and add the ending: hoping, making.
The -ed ending has three sounds, /t/ (jumped), /d/ (played) and /id/ (painted), but it is always spelled ed.
Common mistakes
- Confusing hoping (from hope) with hopping (from hop).
- Writing -ed as it sounds: “jumpt,” “playd.”
- Keeping the e: “makeing,” “rideing.”
Practice ideas
- Write the base word first, then decide which rule applies before adding the ending.
- Practice pairs side by side: hoping/hopping, taping/tapping.
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